turboawd

is this a manual car?

Poser

Its auto

It did it again today. It's seeming like more and more the starter. When I tried to start it I heard a couple clicks from the starter.

almandee26

Change the starter my friend . Just fix the problem if you know it's the starter change it and problem gone

Poser

Im going to tackle it on my days off.

06BMW550i

I just had that same problem with my 06 M5. It wouldn't crank or anything but all the lights on the dash would come on. After trying it a few times the battery went dead so I charged it for 5 hours and when I went to try it again it started after the 4th try. I'm not exactly sure what the problem is but I'm thinking it's my starter.

BimmerFan52

One-third of all cars that won't start can be traced to the battery problem.

Sometimes the battery will have just enough juice to turn the dash lights on, but not crank the starter. So if you are not successful again, turn the car off and measure the battery voltage. Anything under 12.0-12.1V and you may not turn the starter motor (fully charged healthy battery is 12.6V).

Second question is do you hear a click when you try to crank the engine (sound of solenoid moving the starter gear against the flywheel). No click could mean the battery is completely dead, or that the voltage is not getting to the starter.

If the voltage is not getting to the starter then that could be caused by one of a whole bunch of things that must happen before the electrical system will deliver the voltage, like the CAS is not handshaking with the key (try another key) or one of the switches that must be closed is not closing (brake pedal, gear shift lever, steering column lock, transmission solenoid, etc.).

If you can jump the car then it is likely your battery. If it is older just replace it. If it is fairly new then you have to begin to figure out what is killing it. Usually something left on, lots of short trips without enough driving to recharge or parasitic current draw from something in the car that is malfunctioning. Early model IBS were easily damaged by moisture and would sometimes malfunction, repeatedly waking the ECM so the battery is run down. Later model door handles can malfunction and keep the car awake.

If the starter is intermittent, then usually you will hear the solenoid click, but no cranking and likely the brushes are worn and not making contact. If you know where the starter is and can reach it with a stick give it a few hard pokes and try it again. Sometimes this jars the brushes into contact. I have no idea where the starter is on your car but on the 545i it is buried and not easy to get to.

But first things first. Check the battery.